Hem Personer Philemon Philemon was a wealthy Christian in Colossae who hosted a house church in his home. He is known through Paul's personal letter, where the apostle appeals to him to welcome back his runaway slave Onesimus, no longer as a slave but as a beloved brother in Christ.
Nyckelhändelser Philemon was converted to the faith through Paul's ministry, making him one of the apostle's spiritual children.
19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self. grek ἐγὼ Παῦλος ἔγραψα τῇ ἐμῇ χειρί, ἐγὼ ἀποτίσω· ἵνα μὴ λέγω σοι ὅτι καὶ σεαυτόν μοι προσοφείλεις.
Philemon opened his home in Colossae for Christians, and the church gathered there regularly for worship and fellowship.
2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house: grek καὶ Ἀπφίᾳ τῇ ⸀ἀδελφῇ καὶ Ἀρχίππῳ τῷ συστρατιώτῃ ἡμῶν καὶ τῇ κατʼ οἶκόν σου ἐκκλησίᾳ·
Paul commends Philemon for his love toward all the saints and his faith in the Lord Jesus, which has been a source of encouragement to many.
4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, grek Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ θεῷ μου πάντοτε μνείαν σου ποιούμενος ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν μου,
5 because I keep hearing of your love and of the faith you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. grek ἀκούων σου τὴν ἀγάπην καὶ τὴν πίστιν ἣν ἔχεις ⸀πρὸς τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν καὶ εἰς πάντας τοὺς ἁγίους,
6 I pray that the fellowship of your faith may be effective as you come to know every good thing that is ours for the sake of Christ. grek ὅπως ἡ κοινωνία τῆς πίστεώς σου ἐνεργὴς γένηται ἐν ἐπιγνώσει παντὸς ἀγαθοῦ ⸀τοῦ ἐν ἡμῖν εἰς ⸀Χριστόν·
7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because through you, brother, the hearts of the saints have been refreshed. grek ⸀χαρὰν γὰρ ⸂πολλὴν ἔσχον⸃ καὶ παράκλησιν ἐπὶ τῇ ἀγάπῃ σου, ὅτι τὰ σπλάγχνα τῶν ἁγίων ἀναπέπαυται διὰ σοῦ, ἀδελφέ.
Paul wrote a personal letter to Philemon asking him to welcome back his runaway slave Onesimus, now as a Christian brother.
10 appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became while in chains. grek παρακαλῶ σε περὶ τοῦ ἐμοῦ τέκνου, ὃν ἐγέννησα ἐν τοῖς ⸀δεσμοῖς Ὀνήσιμον,
11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.*
*The name Onesimus means "useful" or "profitable"; Paul is playing on his name here. grek τόν ποτέ σοι ἄχρηστον νυνὶ ⸀δὲ σοὶ καὶ ἐμοὶ εὔχρηστον,
12 I am sending him back to you—and with him my very heart. grek ὃν ἀνέπεμψά ⸂σοι αὐτόν, τοῦτʼ ἔστιν τὰ ἐμὰ σπλάγχνα⸃·
15 Perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while: so that you might have him back forever, grek τάχα γὰρ διὰ τοῦτο ἐχωρίσθη πρὸς ὥραν ἵνα αἰώνιον αὐτὸν ἀπέχῃς,
16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave—as a dear brother. He is very dear to me, but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. grek οὐκέτι ὡς δοῦλον ἀλλὰ ὑπὲρ δοῦλον, ἀδελφὸν ἀγαπητόν, μάλιστα ἐμοί, πόσῳ δὲ μᾶλλον σοὶ καὶ ἐν σαρκὶ καὶ ἐν κυρίῳ.
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. grek Εἰ οὖν με ἔχεις κοινωνόν, προσλαβοῦ αὐτὸν ὡς ἐμέ.
Paul expressed hope of being released from prison and asked Philemon to prepare a guest room for him.
22 And one more thing: prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you. grek ἅμα δὲ καὶ ἑτοίμαζέ μοι ξενίαν, ἐλπίζω γὰρ ὅτι διὰ τῶν προσευχῶν ὑμῶν χαρισθήσομαι ὑμῖν.